Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate what a trip will cost in fuel using distance, fuel economy, and pump price, with support for miles, kilometres, US or Imperial MPG, and litres per 100 km.
Calculate your trip’s fuel cost
Enter your one-way distance, vehicle fuel economy, and pump price. Choose matching units to estimate one-way or round-trip fuel costs.
Fuel-price figures must use the selected currency. This is an estimate for fuel only; actual consumption varies with traffic, weather, terrain, load, and driving style.
How fuel cost is actually calculated
Fuel cost comes down to three numbers: how far you’re driving, how efficiently your vehicle uses fuel, and the price of fuel where you’re buying it. For MPG, divide miles by miles per gallon to estimate gallons used. For L/100 km, divide kilometres by 100 and multiply by the consumption figure to estimate litres used. Multiply the fuel amount by the matching pump price. The calculator converts supported units and reports both cost per mile and cost per kilometre.
How to calculate fuel cost in 3 steps
For a quick estimate, use the distance for the whole journey, your vehicle’s realistic fuel-economy figure, and a pump price that matches the selected price unit. The result is a fuel-only estimate, not a quote for the full cost of travel.
- Enter trip distance — in miles or kilometres.
- Enter fuel economy and fuel price — use recent real-world figures and choose the matching units.
- Choose one-way or round trip — the calculator doubles the distance for round trips automatically.
Why cost-per-mile matters more than total cost
A larger vehicle might cost more for a specific trip, but the cost-per-mile figure is what lets you fairly compare a fuel-efficient compact car against a truck, or compare renting versus using your own vehicle, regardless of the specific distance involved.
Real-world fuel economy vs. the sticker number
EPA-estimated MPG figures are based on standardized test conditions. Highway speed, traffic, weather, hills, and extra weight can make real-world fuel economy differ from the vehicle’s official rating. For longer journeys, use your own recent fuel-economy records where possible.
Worked example
A 250-mile round trip (500 miles total) in a car averaging 28 mpg at $3.45 a gallon: 500 ÷ 28 = 17.86 gallons needed, at $3.45 each that’s $61.61 in fuel, or about $0.123 per mile.
Cost per mile by fuel economy
At $3.45 per gallon, here’s roughly what different vehicle types cost to drive, per mile:
| Vehicle type | Typical MPG | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 35 mpg | $0.099 |
| Midsize sedan | 28 mpg | $0.123 |
| SUV | 22 mpg | $0.157 |
| Pickup truck | 18 mpg | $0.192 |
Update the fuel price in the calculator above for your local price — this table is just illustrative at $3.45/gallon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my car’s actual miles per gallon?
Reset your trip odometer at a full tank, drive until you need to refuel, then divide the miles driven by the gallons it took to refill the tank — this gives your real-world MPG, which is often slightly lower than the official EPA rating.
Does this work for calculating a round trip?
Yes — select “Round trip” and the calculator automatically doubles the one-way distance you enter before calculating cost.
How can I estimate fuel cost in liters instead of gallons?
Choose the fuel-efficiency unit that matches your vehicle and the price unit that matches the fuel price you enter. For example, select kilometres, litres per 100 km, and price per litre for metric inputs. The calculator converts supported combinations automatically.
How do I compare fuel costs between two vehicles?
Run the calculator once per vehicle using the same distance and fuel price, then compare the cost-per-mile figures — that’s the fairest way to compare a fuel-efficient car against a truck or SUV.